‘Urgent action’ is needed to halt rising drug deaths
A SCOTTISH Government task force set up to tackle the rise in drug deaths has met for the first time.
Chaired by Professor Catriona Matheson from the University of Stirling, the group gathered in Edinburgh yesterday.
A further three members, all with “lived experience” of drugs, were appointed to the task force.
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick addressed the meeting, saying afterwards that “urgent and immediate action” was needed to halt the rise.
Statistics published in the summer showed there were 1,187 drug-related deaths in 2018, up from 934 the year before and the highest on record.
Mr FitzPatrick said: “We had good, constructive discussions around this public health emergency today and the ways in which we might tackle it.
“We know there is no easy solution and driving down the shocking statistics on drug deaths we saw this year will be challenging and will take time.
“We all, however, recognise the need for urgent and immediate action.
“We will draw on the experience and expertise of the task force members and those with lived experience to shape how services in Scotland could save lives.
“Building on increases in funding in recent years, we’re investing a further £20million over the next two years to help deliver the proposals which come forward.”
Task force members heard presentations by experts and took part in a number of discussions, including the best way to ensure the voices of those with experience of drugs issues were heard, as well as looking into harm reduction tactics, such as opioid substitution therapy.
Prof Matheson said: “After some very informative presentations from a number of experts, the group discussed a number of key issues which will now be taken forward.
“I would like to thank all the members for their time and contributions today, and going forward, as we seek to address the considerable challenge of drug-related deaths, I am reassured by the total commitment shown to make progress.
“This is a highly complex matter that needs to be addressed from a number of angles and I am confident that we will be able to take action that can make a difference. I look forward to progressing this work over the coming months.”
Members of the task force have been selected from a variety of fields, including health, criminal justice and education.